Reading Comprehension

What does carpetbagging refer to in the passage?

Directions: The questions in this section are based on a single passage. The questions are to be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage. Kindly note that more than one of the choices may conceivably answer some of the questions. However, you are to choose the most appropriate answer; that is, the response that most accurately and completely answers the question.

The decision of the University Grants Commission to defer a move to accommodate foreign higher educational institutions as deemed universities, is sensible, considering that starting universities generally requires Parliamentary sanction. Using the UGC to help entities from abroad make a covert entry would be grossly improper when the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill, 2010 has stalled in the Rajya Sabha. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development has raised several issues relating to the legislation and called for a centralised policy and regulatory regime. What needs to be done immediately is to curb the operation of many unauthorised entrants that are exploiting the prevailing policy vacuum. It is true that a large number of Indian students leave for foreign campuses every year to secure a degree. There is much to be gained, therefore, if the best universities abroad open campuses in India, and offer courses that live up to their reputation for academic rigour. For the student, such an option can mean much lower costs.

Evidently, the passing of a robust law is essential to make sure that exploitation of students by foreign institutions does not take place. What has happened so far in the area of technical education and management courses offered by foreign entities, under the rules of the All India Council for Technical Education, is far from encouraging. The Standing Committee says the AICTE rules have failed to regulate the activities of such institutions, and only a handful of unapproved entities have been proceeded against. A large number of foreign institutions operating twinning programmes partnered unaffiliated and unapproved domestic organisations.

As a result of such carpet bagging, the UGC has now initiated a clean-up by laying down that twinning or joint ventures can be undertaken only with the top 500 names in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and a similar list of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. This is a welcome advance over the present situation but no substitute for hard decisions on issues such as registration, transparent accreditation, socially-relevant medical education, faculty training, mutual recognition of degrees by the respective countries, and crucially, a check on profiteering. It must be emphasised that while an international education can expose some of India's youth to global excellence, equitable access to higher education will depend on a rapidly expanding public university system.

What are the issues relating to legislation that The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development has raised?

Directions: The questions in this section are based on a single passage. The questions are to be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage. Kindly note that more than one of the choices may conceivably answer some of the questions. However, you are to choose the most appropriate answer; that is, the response that most accurately and completely answers the question.

The decision of the University Grants Commission to defer a move to accommodate foreign higher educational institutions as deemed universities, is sensible, considering that starting universities generally requires Parliamentary sanction. Using the UGC to help entities from abroad make a covert entry would be grossly improper when the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill, 2010 has stalled in the Rajya Sabha. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development has raised several issues relating to the legislation and called for a centralised policy and regulatory regime. What needs to be done immediately is to curb the operation of many unauthorised entrants that are exploiting the prevailing policy vacuum. It is true that a large number of Indian students leave for foreign campuses every year to secure a degree. There is much to be gained, therefore, if the best universities abroad open campuses in India, and offer courses that live up to their reputation for academic rigour. For the student, such an option can mean much lower costs.

Evidently, the passing of a robust law is essential to make sure that exploitation of students by foreign institutions does not take place. What has happened so far in the area of technical education and management courses offered by foreign entities, under the rules of the All India Council for Technical Education, is far from encouraging. The Standing Committee says the AICTE rules have failed to regulate the activities of such institutions, and only a handful of unapproved entities have been proceeded against.

A large number of foreign institutions operating twinning programmes partnered unaffiliated and unapproved domestic organisations. As a result of such carpet bagging, the UGC has now initiated a clean-up by laying down that twinning or joint ventures can be undertaken only with the top 500 names in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and a similar list of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. This is a welcome advance over the present situation but no substitute for hard decisions on issues such as registration, transparent accreditation, socially-relevant medical education, faculty training, mutual recognition of degrees by the respective countries, and crucially, a check on profiteering. It must be emphasised that while an international education can expose some of India's youth to global excellence, equitable access to higher education will depend on a rapidly expanding public university system.

Which of the following words is nearest in meaning to defer?

Directions: The questions in this section are based on a single passage. The questions are to be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage. Kindly note that more than one of the choices may conceivably answer some of the questions. However, you are to choose the most appropriate answer; that is, the response that most accurately and completely answers the question.

The decision of the University Grants Commission to defer a move to accommodate foreign higher educational institutions as deemed universities, is sensible, considering that starting universities generally requires Parliamentary sanction. Using the UGC to help entities from abroad make a covert entry would be grossly improper when the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill, 2010 has stalled in the Rajya Sabha. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development has raised several issues relating to the legislation and called for a centralised policy and regulatory regime. What needs to be done immediately is to curb the operation of many unauthorised entrants that are exploiting the prevailing policy vacuum. It is true that a large number of Indian students leave for foreign campuses every year to secure a degree. There is much to be gained, therefore, if the best universities abroad open campuses in India, and offer courses that live up to their reputation for academic rigour. For the student, such an option can mean much lower costs.

Evidently, the passing of a robust law is essential to make sure that exploitation of students by foreign institutions does not take place. What has happened so far in the area of technical education and management courses offered by foreign entities, under the rules of the All India Council for Technical Education, is far from encouraging. The Standing Committee says the AICTE rules have failed to regulate the activities of such institutions, and only a handful of unapproved entities have been proceeded against. A large number of foreign institutions operating twinning programmes partnered unaffiliated and unapproved domestic organisations.

What according to the author is essential to curb the exploitation of students by foreign universities?

Directions: The questions in this section are based on a single passage. The questions are to be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage. Kindly note that more than one of the choices may conceivably answer some of the questions. However, you are to choose the most appropriate answer; that is, the response that most accurately and completely answers the question.

The decision of the University Grants Commission to defer a move to accommodate foreign higher educational institutions as deemed universities, is sensible, considering that starting universities generally requires Parliamentary sanction. Using the UGC to help entities from abroad make a covert entry would be grossly improper when the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill, 2010 has stalled in the Rajya Sabha. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development has raised several issues relating to the legislation and called for a centralised policy and regulatory regime. What needs to be done immediately is to curb the operation of many unauthorised entrants that are exploiting the prevailing policy vacuum. It is true that a large number of Indian students leave for foreign campuses every year to secure a degree. There is much to be gained, therefore, if the best universities abroad open campuses in India, and offer courses that live up to their reputation for academic rigour. For the student, such an option can mean much lower costs.

Evidently, the passing of a robust law is essential to make sure that exploitation of students by foreign institutions does not take place. What has happened so far in the area of technical education and management courses offered by foreign entities, under the rules of the All India Council for Technical Education, is far from encouraging. The Standing Committee says the AICTE rules have failed to regulate the activities of such institutions, and only a handful of unapproved entities have been proceeded against.

A large number of foreign institutions operating twinning programmes partnered unaffiliated and unapproved domestic organisations. As a result of such carpet bagging, the UGC has now initiated a clean-up by laying down that twinning or joint ventures can be undertaken only with the top 500 names in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and a similar list of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. This is a welcome advance over the present situation but no substitute for hard decisions on issues such as registration, transparent accreditation, socially-relevant medical education, faculty training, mutual recognition of degrees by the respective countries, and crucially, a check on profiteering. It must be emphasised that while an international education can expose some of India's youth to global excellence, equitable access to higher education will depend on a rapidly expanding public university system.

What will be gained by the students if the best universities abroad open campuses in India?

Directions: The questions in this section are based on a single passage. The questions are to be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage. Kindly note that more than one of the choices may conceivably answer some of the questions. However, you are to choose the most appropriate answer; that is, the response that most accurately and completely answers the question.

The decision of the University Grants Commission to defer a move to accommodate foreign higher educational institutions as deemed universities, is sensible, considering that starting universities generally requires Parliamentary sanction. Using the UGC to help entities from abroad make a covert entry would be grossly improper when the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill, 2010 has stalled in the Rajya Sabha. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development has raised several issues relating to the legislation and called for a centralised policy and regulatory regime. What needs to be done immediately is to curb the operation of many unauthorised entrants that are exploiting the prevailing policy vacuum. It is true that a large number of Indian students leave for foreign campuses every year to secure a degree. There is much to be gained, therefore, if the best universities abroad open campuses in India, and offer courses that live up to their reputation for academic rigour. For the student, such an option can mean much lower costs.

Evidently, the passing of a robust law is essential to make sure that exploitation of students by foreign institutions does not take place. What has happened so far in the area of technical education and management courses offered by foreign entities, under the rules of the All India Council for Technical Education, is far from encouraging. The Standing Committee says the AICTE rules have failed to regulate the activities of such institutions, and only a handful of unapproved entities have been proceeded against. A large number of foreign institutions operating twinning programmes partnered unaffiliated and unapproved domestic organisations.

As a result of such carpet bagging, the UGC has now initiated a clean-up by laying down that twinning or joint ventures can be undertaken only with the top 500 names in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and a similar list of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. This is a welcome advance over the present situation but no substitute for hard decisions on issues such as registration, transparent accreditation, socially-relevant medical education, faculty training, mutual recognition of degrees by the respective countries, and crucially, a check on profiteering. It must be emphasised that while an international education can expose some of India's youth to global excellence, equitable access to higher education will depend on a rapidly expanding public university system.

What will be the implications for the students of an expanded public university system?

Directions: The questions in this section are based on a single passage. The questions are to be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage. Kindly note that more than one of the choices may conceivably answer some of the questions. However, you are to choose the most appropriate answer; that is, the response that most accurately and completely answers the question.

The decision of the University Grants Commission to defer a move to accommodate foreign higher educational institutions as deemed universities, is sensible, considering that starting universities generally requires Parliamentary sanction. Using the UGC to help entities from abroad make a covert entry would be grossly improper when the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill, 2010 has stalled in the Rajya Sabha. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development has raised several issues relating to the legislation and called for a centralised policy and regulatory regime. What needs to be done immediately is to curb the operation of many unauthorised entrants that are exploiting the prevailing policy vacuum. It is true that a large number of Indian students leave for foreign campuses every year to secure a degree. There is much to be gained, therefore, if the best universities abroad open campuses in India, and offer courses that live up to their reputation for academic rigour. For the student, such an option can mean much lower costs.

Evidently, the passing of a robust law is essential to make sure that exploitation of students by foreign institutions does not take place. What has happened so far in the area of technical education and management courses offered by foreign entities, under the rules of the All India Council for Technical Education, is far from encouraging. The Standing Committee says the AICTE rules have failed to regulate the activities of such institutions, and only a handful of unapproved entities have been proceeded against. A large number of foreign institutions operating twinning programmes partnered unaffiliated and unapproved domestic organisations.

As a result of such carpet bagging, the UGC has now initiated a clean-up by laying down that twinning or joint ventures can be undertaken only with the top 500 names in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and a similar list of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. This is a welcome advance over the present situation but no substitute for hard decisions on issues such as registration, transparent accreditation, socially-relevant medical education, faculty training, mutual recognition of degrees by the respective countries, and crucially, a check on profiteering. It must be emphasised that while an international education can expose some of India's youth to global excellence, equitable access to higher education will depend on a rapidly expanding public university system.

What according to the author is the immediate need of the hour?

Directions: The questions in this section are based on a single passage. The questions are to be answered on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage. Kindly note that more than one of the choices may conceivably answer some of the questions. However, you are to choose the most appropriate answer; that is, the response that most accurately and completely answers the question.

The decision of the University Grants Commission to defer a move to accommodate foreign higher educational institutions as deemed universities, is sensible, considering that starting universities generally requires Parliamentary sanction. Using the UGC to help entities from abroad make a covert entry would be grossly improper when the Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill, 2010 has stalled in the Rajya Sabha. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resource Development has raised several issues relating to the legislation and called for a centralised policy and regulatory regime. What needs to be done immediately is to curb the operations of many unauthorised entrants that are exploiting the prevailing policy vacuum. It is true that a large number of Indian students leave for foreign campuses every year to secure a degree. There is much to be gained, therefore, if the best universities abroad open campuses in India, and offer courses that live up to their reputation for academic rigour. For the student, such an option can mean much lower costs.

Evidently, the passing of a robust law is essential to make sure that exploitation of students by foreign institutions does not take place. What has happened so far in the area of technical education and management courses offered by foreign entities, under the rules of the All India Council for Technical Education, is far from encouraging. The Standing Committee says the AICTE rules have failed to regulate the activities of such institutions, and only a handful of unapproved entities have been proceeded against. A large number of foreign institutions operating twinning programmes partnered unaffiliated and unapproved domestic organisations.

The word era in line 1 could best be replaced by which of the following words?

Read the passage and answer the following question: 

In this passage which of the following are not used in the names for colours?

Read the passage and answer the following question: 

According to the author why would red be a good colour for a lawn mower?

Read the passage and answer the following question: 

The main subject of the passage is

Read the passage and answer the following question: 

According to the author which of the following is not popular now?

Read the passage and answer the following question: 

What was the mistake that the woodcutter realised?

Directions: Read the passage given below carefully and answer the question that follows.

There once was a poor woodcutter. One day while working, he felt tired and sat down under a tree to rest for a while. A little bird flying about happened to see the woodcutter and felt sad at his miserable condition. "I must help him," thought the bird, and perched beside the woodcutter.
As the woodcutter dozed off, the little bird laid a golden egg near him and flew away. When the woodcutter woke up, he was surprised to see the golden egg. He quickly picked it up and slipped it in his pocket. Then he bundled the logs he had chopped that day and carried them to the market.
The woodcutter told the shopkeeper how he had dozed off and found a golden egg when he woke up. The shopkeeper, a cunning man, lured him into exchanging the egg for a single gold coin. The innocent woodcutter accepted. The shopkeeper also told him that if he could bring the bird that laid the golden egg, he could get five gold coins. Promising to bring the bird, the woodcutter went home.
The next day, he went to the same tree where he had found the golden egg and sat down, pretending to sleep. The little bird came again and perched beside him.
Just then, the woodcutter sprang up and caught the bird. "Now I shall sell you to the shopkeeper for five gold coins!" said the woodcutter. "But one golden egg is a hundred times more valuable than five gold coins, don't you know that?" screeched the bird. "The shopkeeper has made a fool of you!"
The woodcutter realized his mistake. "I am sorry I got greedy and harmed you," he said.
But by then the bird had fallen to the ground. "My end is near," she moaned, "I come from the family of Lucky Birds. We bring luck to men, but we are destined to die if ever caught by humans."
The woodcutter heard this and wept bitterly. He asked, "Is there any way I can help you?"
The bird said, "When I die, pluck a feather from my wing and show it to the fire; you'll be transported to my home. Give my feather to my family and tell them the truth." Saying this, the Lucky Bird died.
The woodcutter did as he was told.
In an instant, he found himself amidst the Lucky Bird's family. He showed them the feather and narrated his story to them. "Oh, we must act fast!" said the Father Bird. He kept the Lucky Bird's feather on the ground and began to hop around it. After ten rounds, the Father Bird touched the feather. And lo! The Lucky Bird's lifeless body was transported there.
The Mother Bird and the Sister Birds then brought some green leaves and grass that could raise the dead, and stuffed them into the Lucky Bird's beak. In no time, the Lucky Bird opened her eyes.
The woodcutter was ecstatic to see her alive again. The Lucky Bird then spoke, "Luck appears and disappears; and so do we Lucky Birds. But we don't stay with those who are greedy." The woodcutter cried, "I have lost you because of my foolishness!" "Don’t be disheartened, friend!" said the Lucky Bird.
The woodcutter returned home with a heavy heart, but with the hope that the Lucky Bird would return someday.

How did the bird try to help the woodcutter?

Directions: Read the passage given below carefully and answer the question that follows.

There once was a poor woodcutter. One day while working, he felt tired and sat down under a tree to rest for a while. A little bird flying about happened to see the woodcutter and felt sad at his miserable condition. "I must help him," thought the bird, and perched beside the woodcutter.
As the woodcutter dozed off, the little bird laid a golden egg near him and flew away. When the woodcutter woke up, he was surprised to see the golden egg. He quickly picked it up and slipped it in his pocket. Then he bundled the logs he had chopped that day and carried them to the market.
The woodcutter told the shopkeeper how he had dozed off and found a golden egg when he woke up. The shopkeeper, a cunning man, lured him into exchanging the egg for a single gold coin. The innocent woodcutter accepted. The shopkeeper also told him that if he could bring the bird that laid the golden egg, he could get five gold coins. Promising to bring the bird, the woodcutter went home.
The next day, he went to the same tree where he had found the golden egg and sat down, pretending to sleep. The little bird came again and perched beside him.
Just then, the woodcutter sprang up and caught the bird. "Now I shall sell you to the shopkeeper for five gold coins!" said the woodcutter. "But one golden egg is a hundred times more valuable than five gold coins, don't you know that?" screeched the bird. "The shopkeeper has made a fool of you!"
The woodcutter realized his mistake. "I am sorry I got greedy and harmed you," he said.
But by then the bird had fallen to the ground. "My end is near," she moaned, "I come from the family of Lucky Birds. We bring luck to men, but we are destined to die if ever caught by humans."
The woodcutter heard this and wept bitterly. He asked, "Is there any way I can help you?"
The bird said, "When I die, pluck a feather from my wing and show it to the fire; you'll be transported to my home. Give my feather to my family and tell them the truth." Saying this, the Lucky Bird died.
The woodcutter did as he was told.
In an instant, he found himself amidst the Lucky Bird's family. He showed them the feather and narrated his story to them. "Oh, we must act fast!" said the Father Bird. He kept the Lucky Bird's feather on the ground and began to hop around it. After ten rounds, the Father Bird touched the feather. And lo! The Lucky Bird's lifeless body was transported there.
The Mother Bird and the Sister Birds then brought some green leaves and grass that could raise the dead, and stuffed them into the Lucky Bird's beak. In no time, the Lucky Bird opened her eyes.
The woodcutter was ecstatic to see her alive again. The Lucky Bird then spoke, "Luck appears and disappears; and so do we Lucky Birds. But we don't stay with those who are greedy." The woodcutter cried, "I have lost you because of my foolishness!" "Don’t be disheartened, friend!" said the Lucky Bird.
The woodcutter returned home with a heavy heart, but with the hope that the Lucky Bird would return someday.

Why did the bird fall to the ground?

Directions: Read the passage given below carefully and answer the question that follows.

There once was a poor woodcutter. One day while working, he felt tired and sat down under a tree to rest for a while. A little bird flying about happened to see the woodcutter and felt sad at his miserable condition. "I must help him," thought the bird, and perched beside the woodcutter.
As the woodcutter dozed off, the little bird laid a golden egg near him and flew away. When the woodcutter woke up, he was surprised to see the golden egg. He quickly picked it up and slipped it in his pocket. Then he bundled the logs he had chopped that day and carried them to the market.
The woodcutter told the shopkeeper how he had dozed off and found a golden egg when he woke up. The shopkeeper, a cunning man, lured him into exchanging the egg for a single gold coin. The innocent woodcutter accepted. The shopkeeper also told him that if he could bring the bird that laid the golden egg, he could get five gold coins. Promising to bring the bird, the woodcutter went home.
The next day, he went to the same tree where he had found the golden egg and sat down, pretending to sleep. The little bird came again and perched beside him.
Just then, the woodcutter sprang up and caught the bird. "Now I shall sell you to the shopkeeper for five gold coins!" said the woodcutter. "But one golden egg is a hundred times more valuable than five gold coins, don't you know that?" screeched the bird. "The shopkeeper has made a fool of you!"
The woodcutter realized his mistake. "I am sorry I got greedy and harmed you," he said.
But by then the bird had fallen to the ground. "My end is near," she moaned, "I come from the family of Lucky Birds. We bring luck to men, but we are destined to die if ever caught by humans."
The woodcutter heard this and wept bitterly. He asked, "Is there any way I can help you?"
The bird said, "When I die, pluck a feather from my wing and show it to the fire; you'll be transported to my home. Give my feather to my family and tell them the truth." Saying this, the Lucky Bird died.
The woodcutter did as he was told.
In an instant, he found himself amidst the Lucky Bird's family. He showed them the feather and narrated his story to them. "Oh, we must act fast!" said the Father Bird. He kept the Lucky Bird's feather on the ground and began to hop around it. After ten rounds, the Father Bird touched the feather. And lo! The Lucky Bird's lifeless body was transported there.
The Mother Bird and the Sister Birds then brought some green leaves and grass that could raise the dead, and stuffed them into the Lucky Bird's beak. In no time, the Lucky Bird opened her eyes.
The woodcutter was ecstatic to see her alive again. The Lucky Bird then spoke, "Luck appears and disappears; and so do we Lucky Birds. But we don't stay with those who are greedy." The woodcutter cried, "I have lost you because of my foolishness!" "Don’t be disheartened, friend!" said the Lucky Bird.
The woodcutter returned home with a heavy heart, but with the hope that the Lucky Bird would return someday.